CHAP. VIII.

[.]

GILDAS. COLUMBA.

75

his country, or the period at which he lived. He is supposed, however, to have lived in the sixth century. The title of the old translation of his works is," The Epistle of Gildas, the most ancient British author, who flourished in the year of our Lord, 546: and who, by his great erudition, sanctity, and wisdom, acquired the name of 'Sapiens,' faithfully translated out of the original Latin." A very ancient catalogue of the Saints of Ireland, published by Archbishop Usher, states, that Gildas and others, introduced the ancient British liturgy into that island.

St. Columba must not be passed over in silence. He probably did not exercise his ministry in England, but having been instructed in Ireland, undertook his mission in the northern parts of Scotland, and founded his famous school at Iona, one of the Western Isles. There is scarcely any institution which the British Church has occasion to regard with stronger feelings of gratitude, as thence issued, at a subsequent time, many of those teachers to whom under God we are indebted for the revival of the Christian faith in this land, after its temporary overthrow by the Saxons.

With these we must close the list of British Christian worthies, though other eminent men might be named; for as Fuller remarks in his

quaint style, "a national Church being a large room, it is hard to count all the candles that God lighted therein.”

CHAPTER IX.

CONCLUSION.

THE events mentioned in the previous chapters, were of a date prior to the arrival of the mission sent to England by Pope Gregory, all claim therefore, to authority over the Church in this country, in consequence of that mission, falls to the ground. The testimony of history establishes the declaration contained in our 37th Article" The Bishop of Rome hath no jurisdiction in this realm of England." Here we had a Church independent of Rome, for orders, doctrine, and discipline, and agreeing in all these things, with what now prevails among us, while it differed widely from the doctrines and practices of Rome.

It has also been shewn, that there is a great degree of probability, that the Gospel was preached here by St. Paul, and almost a certainty, that it was preached here in the apostolic age; we may therefore fairly conclude, that when first planted, it was so in purity, and all the information we can obtain, shews to us, that we inherit a form and

constitution established by the Apostles themselves.

But there are more important questions connected with this subject, than either form of ecclesiastical polity, or the extent of any jurisdiction. What was the faith once delivered to the Saints, the faith for which Alban died, and which was stedfastly maintained by Germanus and others? It was the self-same faith with that for which Cranmer, Ridley, and Latimer suffered, the same which is to be seen so clearly in our Articles, and Book of Common Prayer. It was the faith of Christ-deliverance from sin and its curse, through that sacrifice which He made once for all, for the sins of the whole world. It is clearly asserted in the homily on the salvation of mankind, ascribing "the merit and deserving of our justification unto Christ and His most precious blood shedding. This faith the holy scripture teacheth; this is the strong rock and foundation of Christian religion; this doctrine all old and ancient authors of Christ's Church do approve; this doctrine advanceth and setteth forth the true glory of Christ, and beateth down the vain glory of man."

The Church of England has no need to shrink from an appeal to antiquity. As a matter of principle, it takes its stand on Scripture, and

CHAP. IX.]

CONCLUSION.

79

declares," that whatsoever is not read therein, nor may be proved thereby, is not to be required of any man, that it should be believed as an article of the faith, or be thought requisite or necessary to salvation." But there is not any

Church which may more confidently point to its own beginning, and declare to any wavering members, "Stand in the ways and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for

your

souls."

G. CRAWSHAW, PRINTER, LEEDS.